I didn’t have enough time to post yesterday, but no matter. As we have seen, in the lower divisions, “rounds” are split over two days each, so I will just cover the whole “round 3”, days 5 and 6, together. So lots of matches today. The matches will be mixed, and the order haphazard, but no worries, it’s sumo!
We are off to the second day of the second round. And in addition to the matches themselves, we also have a few bloopers. Kind of. Let’s begin at the beginning.
It’s Day 3. And you know what happens on Day 3? Maezumo starts!
Only, not this time.
For the first time since the current system has been set up (in the ’60s), maezumo will not take place. Normally, maezumo consists of new recruits and rikishi who were off-banzuke and wish to make a comeback. This basho, there has been only one new recruit. Being Mongolian, however, he cannot enter the association until he receives the appropriate visa, which is expected to happen next basho.
This leaves us with off-banzuke rikishi. But only one such rikishi had plans to return this basho – Reon, of Shikihide beya. I have been joking on twitter about the sumo equivalent of “one hand clapping”, but this turned into reality. Reon will be declared “shusse” (passing), and will start next basho at Jonokuchi, without ever having mounted the dohyo this basho (except, perhaps, in the goyji toss? Not sure).
Which leaves us with nothing to do but cover the ranked matches of the day, which is the first day of round 2. Let’s get on with it, then.
In Makushita and below, Day 2 is essentially just the second part of Day 1. That is, about half the rikishi do their first bout on the actual Day 1, and the second half do it on Day2.
It is also the day when maezumo bouts begin. While in other basho we are usually lucky if there are 10 new recruits showing up, Osaka basho has always been a basho in which dozens of rikishi join the profession. This time we have 45 new recruits (and one guy who is off-banzuke and needs to redo his maezumo), split into two groups. I won’t be able to cover that many in this little corner, but I’ll introduce one who has drawn some media attention.
Continue reading